Chapter Text
Miyuki Kazuya has a bad personality.
He is arrogant, loves to get under people's skin, riling them up whenever possible. He hardly thinks about how other people feels, only caring for results. He didn't even feel bad when he told his senpais how bad their game was after losing in a practice game in junior high school, didn't even feel bad when he made a girl cry after rejecting her. He might be a genius catcher, cream of the crop, but everyone in his team, in his class, in his school- in the whole Tokyo, knew how poisonous his personality is. You have to be an angel to stand him.
Most people don't know that it was only a front that Miyuki created to prevent people from approaching him.
He is capable of feeling. Of course, obviously. But based on his personal experience (or rather, his father's), letting people close to you will do nothing but hurt you. He saw how much his dad cried, after all. He was with him through all those empty beer bottles strewn on the floor, he was with him as they prayed together on the cold hospital room, he was with him when they put the final nail on his mother's coffin. All because his father's best friend betrayed him.
That's why Miyuki doesn't usually seek relationship with anyone.
He acted indifferent, pushing everyone way with a bad personality as his front. He understood what to say, he understood what not to say, but he still said what he said anyway, in order to make people dislike him, in order to make people avoid him. Trusting people will only hurt him, just like how his father's best friend hurt his dad. It was his belief since his broken childhood, amplified by the bullying he received as a child. He's not going to give anyone a chance, no.
"You said things you don't mean again," Kuramochi, one of the 'angels' that managed to stand him, somehow- said, hugging his chair as he sat backwards, facing Miyuki who is seated behind him. His brows are knitted together, eyeing Miyuki with slight annoyance.
Most people don't know, but… there are always people who somehow managed to read him, and his baseball teammate slash best friend (but he's not gonna admit it ever), is one of them. Kuramochi Youichi, a shortstop who is too attentive for his own good. Miyuki pushed him and rattled him way too many times, really, but he just won't back down. Miyuki sighed, already feeling something akin to irritation creeping to him. Or maybe not exactly irritation- some of them is definitely delight, because no matter how much you want to hide yourself, a part of you will definitely want someone to find you.
"I don't know what are you talking about, Mochi," Miyuki replied, spinning his pencil with his fingers.
"Yeah, whatever, jerk," Kuramochi said, not impressed, "I don't know why did you do what you did, but one day you'll regret it."
"Aww, getting worried of me?" Miyuki sing-songs, already raising Kuramochi's blood pressure early in the morning, "How sweet, Mochi! You like me or something? Sorry though, you're not exactly my type~"
An eraser was thrown on Miyuki's forehead, making him slam his eyes shut. "Ow!"
"You're so insufferable!" Kuramochi yelled before standing up and turning away to sit properly as Miyuki rubbed his forehead with his hand.
Miyuki chuckled to himself. After times like these he'd wonder if Kuramochi will finally bolt and leave him, but everytime he didn't and stayed, it somehow relieved Miyuki.
Even though he was the one who pushed him away.
===
Miyuki was going to a convenience store one afternoon. It was the weekend, and usually he'd spend it practicing his batting, but Kuramochi made him buy snacks because he lost a bet against him. Miyuki grumbled. He was so sure he'd win when it comes to reading people in the baseball diamond, but somehow the batter in the television decided to swing at a ball and struck out. Kuramochi had laughed his "Hyaha! See!" loudly, slamming Miyuki's back with his hands.
He was passing by a park when he heard a smack followed with a loud "Oshi"!
Miyuki turned. He stared at the brown haired man with sun-kissed skin as he wound up, sending a ball towards a makeshift net, a supposedly football net covered with ripped tarpaulin - a satisfying smack resounding on that small park.
Miyuki was instantly intrigued. The way the ball moved was… weird. He thought it was a fluke, but the man picked another ball and sent it flying with the same, but different movement. His posture was that of a pitcher, his legs strong as it landed on the dirt. He definitely knew what he was doing.
"Oshi!" the man shouted again, clenching both of his fists. "Definitely a strike! Haven't lost my touch!"
"What touch?" a voice surprised the man he jumped with a yelp, shouting at Miyuki's face even Miyuki himself is surprised.
"D-Don't scare me like that! Geez!" The man calmed himself, his hand clenching on his chest. Miyuki finally got a proper look on his face. The man was attractive in many ways, but those big, brownish golden eyes took the cake. Miyuki felt hypnotized by those eyes alone. It only piqued his interests more. He leaned in into the man's space, asking, "Are you a pitcher? Southpaw?"
The man flinched, staying silent for a few seconds before replying, "H-How did you know?"
"Hey, what was that pitch? Could you throw more?" Miyuki asked again, "Are you in university? Playing for any team?"
The man backed off defensively, "I-I'm not an university student! I'm a high school teacher!"
Miyuki eyed him up and down with interest. "Huh. You looked so young. I thought you're 20 or something."
"I-I'm 26, you know!" The man huffed, crossing his arms together.
"Okay, I know now," Miyuki grinned, a hand presented in front of the man. The man was puzzled, until Miyuki said, "Miyuki Kazuya. 17 years old."
"Huh? Oh-" the man instinctively shook his hand, "Sa-Sawamura Eijun…"
"Nice knowing you, Sawamura-san. I'm a catcher, by the way," Miyuki grinned, "how about I catch a few of your pitches? I'm interested in them."
Sawamura looked dumbfounded. He was never approached in such a way. His brain stopped functioning for a while. "I-"
"I'm thankful for the offer, but no!" Sawamura flailed his hands, "I-I don't play baseball anymore."
Miyuki frowned. "But you just pitched a few fastballs on that net."
Hurt flashed through Sawamura's eyes, and knowing something was amiss, Miyuki was about to retract his offer when Sawamura gave him a forced laugh instead before continuing. "My pitches are dangerous, you know! People said they move weirdly… It might even hurt you! I'm a grown man, so if I accidentally used too much power-"
Another thing seemed to go through Sawamura's eyes- and Miyuki could swore it was fear. But then he locked eyes with Miyuki, and Miyuki thought something like hope was also there.
Miyuki took his chances. "As I said, I'm a catcher. If you're worried, I'll bring my catcher gear."
He added with a confident grin, "I promise I'll catch all of your pitches, Sawamura-san."
Miyuki wasn't wrong. Sawamura's eyes definitely gleamed. He breathed a lungful before replying, "…Okay."
With that, Miyuki took a U-turn towards Seido Spirit Dorm. He can always get the snacks after catching Sawamura's pitches. Upon arriving at his room, he dumped his catcher gear and mitt into his sports bag and walked a little bit too fast towards the park, excited to catch Sawamura's pitches. He hadn't been this excited for a long time now- he arrived at the park with a huff. Sawamura was there waiting for him under the shade, his eyes looked melancholic as he stared at the makeshift net.
He almost looked sad.
"Sawamura-san?" Miyuki called, and that snapped Sawamura back to reality.
"Oh- hey! That was fast." Sawamura smiled brightly, washing away all the melancholy from few seconds past. "I'll help you with your catcher gear."
Miyuki didn't expect that. Sawamura definitely played baseball before- his hands were dextrous when he helped Miyuki wear his gear.
"What kind of pitches do you have?" Miyuki asked, covering his face with his catcher helmet.
Sawamura looked thoughtful as he looked like he was… counting?
"Cutter, two-seam, four-seam, changeup, splitter…" he thoughtfully whispered to himself, but did he really expect Miyuki not to hear his loud voice? Miyuki's eyes widened as Sawamura continued his repertoire with his mumbling, but then settled with, "I throw fastballs for life!"
You gotta be kidding me.
Miyuki sighed, but then he gave Sawamura a little smile. "If I managed to catch your fastballs, will you show me the rest?"
Sawamura flinched, realizing his lie isn't getting through.
"Okay…" he said again, "But promise me you'll be careful."
How bad are his pitches anyway? was what Miyuki thought as he crouched down.
Sawamura wound up and looking at it from the side isn't the same as looking at it from the front- Miyuki swore his arm disappeared.
Even so, Miyuki managed to catch the ball, although it was moving erratically, with his fast reaction.
"Wow," Sawamura said.
"Wow," Miyuki echoed.
"You really caught that!" Sawamura said, smiling widely.
"I'm aiming to be the best catcher in tokyo, thanks!" Miyuki replied, throwing the ball back softly, because Sawamura wasn't wearing a baseball glove. "Next!"
Sawamura lights up, grinning with sudden fire burning in his eyes. "Cutter's up!"
Miyuki mimicked Sawamura's grin unconsciously. "Bring it on!"
===
When they're both exhausted, the sun had already set.
As promised, Miyuki caught all of Sawamura's pitches.
He had been hesitating at first, but afterwards he didn't hold back. He threw like 50 pitches.
"You're amazing, Miyuki Kazuya!" Sawamura praised happily, lying on the grass, sweat glistening on his skin. "I'm sure you'll be the best catcher in the world!"
"Thanks," Miyuki replied, also lying beside Sawamura, catcher gear lying on the grass beside him. "Do you often pitch here? I don't think I ever saw you before."
Miyuki froze. What was he thinking? He wanted to know about the pitcher. He shouldn't, even though he's curious about his pitches. He doesn't need any friends, he doesn't want them-
"I just moved here, actually!" Sawamura replied, pulling his collar to let air in, fanning himself. "My hometown got too much teachers and only a few students, and a friend of mine said her friend needed a new teacher in Tokyo-"
Miyuki tried to pay attention, but his eyes were too focused on Sawamura's peeking collarbone.
"-Miyuki Kazuya! Are you listening?"
"Oh. Yes." Miyuki's eyes darted away, standing up to put his catcher gear on his sports bag.
"I'll be going back first, then, Sawamura-san. If we meet again, you better show me the pitches you still had hidden," Miyuki smirked. Sawamura flinched, taken aback, not expecting Miyuki to realize that he hasn't showed him all of his pitches.
"They're unstable!" Sawamura said with a huff. "You'll get hurt!"
"I have to be able to catch them if I'm aiming to be the best catcher, don't you think?" Miyuki replied easily, already lifting his sports bag.
Sawamura hesitated, but then replied with a pout. "… Fine. If we meet again, then."
Miyuki gave him a grin, drawling out Sawamura's name, "See you, Sawamura-san!"
He walked away then, making a mental note not to go to that park again.
I caught enough of his pitches, he convinced himself.
He forgot to buy snacks for Kuramochi, in which he got chewed out by him, but thankfully Kuramochi didn't mind when Miyuki gave him drinks from the vending machine in exchange.
Catching Sawamura's pitches were exciting. His naturally moving fastballs would be a great weapon for Seido- had he been ten years younger and attended Seido, Miyuki was sure he'd make him his pitcher.
Oh well. It's not like we'll meet again, Miyuki shrugged.
Miyuki should have listened instead of focusing on Sawamura's collarbone, pretty eyes, and lean figure that day, really, for when he entered class few days later, his eyes widened with shock as he looked at the figure in front of the class.
"Hi, class!" The man with golden-brown eyes and brown locks smiled widely, his loud voice bringing everyone's attention to him, "My name is Sawamura Eijun, and I'm going to be your new- geh, Miyuki Kazuya?!"
Miyuki groaned when all eyes turned to him. This can't be real. Of all places, he had to be teaching at Seidou.
Oh well. If fate wants him to catch his pitches, then so be it.
"Yes that's me," Miyuki said while raising his hand. "Please take care of me, I guess?"
If it's the beginning of his chaotic days, then so be it.